Chapter 52
Scarlett
Here we are, back in Lakebrook. Matt is back to his tense ways. I get it. It was nice to know he does relax.
He’s given me a lot to think about. Why is it always the woman that has to move and take a chance? It might not even work out. Then I’ll have gone halfway across the country for a guy. If I didn’t agree to go with him, I’d lose him. Losing him seems like a worse option.
I still can’t believe I’ve agreed to it. This isn’t me; I’m the girl who doesn’t need a guy. Would I like one? Yes, of course. Do I like this one? Yes, way more than I should. Am I fond of how many orgasms he gives me? Well, duh.
I’m in the middle of a workout but all I’m doing is staring at the machine in front of me.
Come on brain, function.
I blame Matt. He’s hypnotized me with his strong body, nice accent, and care towards me. I almost considered our morning sex as my workout today. Then I realized he takes control and I didn’t burn many calories. So here I am at the gym, trying to exercise.
I should be lifting weights. Instead, I’m staring at them thinking about his sculpted body on top of me, how sensual his kiss is, and about his smell, burnt into my nose.
Okay, new plan, I’ll go to the spin class. I’ll be hot and sweaty for my next client, and probably for the rest of the day, but I need to clear my mind. I need to figure out what my life will consist of in Texas, and I need to make sure everything is set up in Washington.
I’m meeting with the girls later to talk this over, and if they don’t bring alcohol, I’m doomed. Who am I kidding, of course, they’ll bring alcohol.
I’m cycling up an imaginary mountain with my quadriceps burning. I pay attention to my body and breathing. I just need to keep moving. The beat of the music keeps me going and going.
By the time the class is over, my legs are loose and sore. I have no idea how I’ll be able to work with my clients, but I’m calm. My thoughts have stopped racing and a smile stares back at me in the mirror as I adjust my pants.
I can come up with a plan. It’s what I do.
~
The girls are about to file in any moment now.
I told Matt I was having them over for some girl time.
He told me to call him once they left so he could come get me after it was over.
Little does he know, these things last all night.
I’ll have to send him a sexy picture letting him know I’m thinking about him.
He is the main topic of conversation tonight. I’m excited to see my friends; it feels like I have to split my time these days. Although the renovation and additions at the gym are coming along, we still have work to do. Tonight, we’ve decided to take the time off and have some fun.
A knock at the door sounds. “Come in!” I yell.
“Hey, hey! Guess who we found!” Paige announces.
Three people enter through my front door and one of them is not a girl. It’s Jason. Maybe having a male’s perspective about this move will be helpful.
“Hello! Please tell me you brought supplies!” I say, giving them all a hug like I haven’t seen them in a decade.
“Who do you think you hang out with?” Paige asks as she holds up rum in one hand and soda in the other.
“You know I love you most of all, right?” I whisper into her ear.
“I heard that!” Jason glares. “You tell me I’m your favorite all the time, babe.”
I hold a finger over my mouth. “Shhh, don’t tell Paige!”
“Tell us how Texas went!” Paige shakes my arm, excited.
“We need drinks before we dive into this conversation,” I tell them.
We all venture into the kitchen. Jason and Lana sit at the breakfast bar while I grab glasses. Paige opens up the bottles and puts ice in each glass.
Jason talks between blending. “So, guess who I ‘Bumped’ with last night?”
“‘Bumped?’” I crease my eyebrows. “I thought you were ‘Playing.’”
“That was like a month ago, Scarlett.” He swishes his hand at me.
“Oh, right,” I say.
“If anyone is ‘Bumping’ they aren’t looking to commit,” Lana tells us.
“Well, good thing I just want a ‘Bump’ every now and then. Preferably a big ‘Bump.’” We all start giggling.
“Isn’t a bump, like, cocaine?” I ask. “When you signed up for ‘Bumping,’ did you think it was for drugs?”
“No. There are guys making out as the icon,” Jason tells us.
“Oh, good,” I say.
Once the drinks are successfully mixed and I have downed about half of mine, I begin. “Okay, so, Matt asked me to move to Texas with him.”
“Oh my gosh!” Paige screams.
I pause to ensure the screaming is over. “I said yes.”
“Oh my gosh!” Paige screams again.
“Would you guys understand if I left? I’m not going to leave you hanging, of course.
I’m going to come up with a plan. I just couldn’t say no.
You should’ve seen him in Texas! He was relaxed, made jokes, slept in.
Suddenly, the idea of asking him to stay here, where he’s on edge and doing something every second felt so wrong.
Of course, that now puts me in a huge time crunch.
I have to figure out what I would do in Texas, plus not leave you guys without a plan or a partner.
What the hell am I going to do without you guys?
I know everything that’ll happen here. It’s where I’ve always lived and it’s scary to move out of my comfort zone, but if I don’t, I’ll lose Matt. ”
“It’s best to just follow your heart. If I had a choice to move with my ex, I would have,” Lana says, with resentment seeping into her voice.
“We know you wouldn’t leave us without a plan, Scar. We’re a plane ride away. No problem,” Paige gives me a half hug.
“Okay, so you don’t hate me?” I hug her back.
“How could we hate you for choosing to have a life? We’ve all met Matt. We know he’s in love with you,” Paige says.
“A guy that hot, who cooks? You have to hang on to him!” Jason states.
“Jason, she’s going to cowboy country. You and I can find one who’s willing to take a break from his horse, if you know what I mean.” Paige nudges Jason with a big smile .
“Sounds good, but you guys do know you just opened a gym, right?” Jason gives us a reality check.
“Yes, I’m aware.” I glare at him. “That’s why I need to talk to you guys so we can come up with a plan. Let’s look at all the options—let’s say I move to Texas. What if it doesn’t work out after I’ve moved? I’d be without you guys and without a gym where my career is. I’d be screwed.”
“You guys are going to be fine,” Lana says in a monotone voice.
“No dick will ever be as good as us,” Jason pauses, “but, I haven’t ever had that good of a dick.”
“This is serious, guys! I doubt I can find a gym that was as good of a deal in Texas. We only got this deal because we knew the owners. I have a plan to make sure the gym has a future here, but that’ll take time.
It’ll cost more than we want if I rush it.
” My arms are crossed as my leg starts moving up and down on its own.
“Don’t worry. We’re going to figure this out,” Paige says, with a consoling hand on my shoulder.
~
Three hours and a bottle of tequila later, we’ve all passed out on my living room floor watching a movie after dinner. The lock turns, startling me awake. I still have the key under the mat, but I wasn’t expecting anyone else to come over.
Jason has fallen asleep on my stomach, so I can’t get up without waking him. The world is also spinning, affecting my reflexes. Why do I always think alcohol is a good idea?
Then my stomach drops. Matt is walking inside. When he spots me, a frown and tense shoulders appear. Instead of coming all the way in, he turns and stalks out.
I shuffle Jason off of me. Him waking up isn’t a huge concern anymore; getting to Matt is. Jason doesn’t wake, and I run outside to Matt.
“It’s not what it looks like,” I say, holding my hands up on either side of my head.
“It doesn’t look good when some guy is laying on my girlfriend and she didn’t call!” He keeps walking to his car door.
“I can see that. But—”
He turns towards me. “There’s no excuse for what I just saw in there.” He flares his arm to my place.
“You’re missing some information! Jason is gay. He’s one of the girls. I promise you we’re just friends. He was ‘Bumping’ with a guy last night, in fact. I didn’t know he was coming over! I thought it was a girls’ night, but again, he’s basically one of the girls.”
Matt takes a breath and calms down. “I was worried. I called you—several times—but you didn’t answer.”
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t look at my phone. I meant to, but we got to talking.”
“What the hell is ‘Bumping?’”
“It’s a long story.”
“Might help to mention important facts like if a guy is into guys, you know.”
“I know, I know! I should’ve clarified. I forgot to mention anything after our first date. I should’ve also mentioned we drink and then they usually stay over. Safety and all.”
“Yes, mentioning that would’ve been the mature thing to do.”
I nod my head, wringing my hands together. He stands there looking around .
“Have a good rest of the night, I guess.” He starts moving towards the car door. Now that he’s here, I don’t want him to leave.
“I meant to send you a sexy picture. All we did was talk about you most of the night. I just miss them.” I shrug. “Since we’ve been together, it’s been hard to find time with them.”
“Sorry for wanting to be with you.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Matt.”
He’s quiet for a minute. “You really need to move the key from under your mat. Anyone could guess it’s there and then be in your house.”
“You’re right. Hold on, don’t move!” I run up my pathway, turning to see if he’s still there. He stays staring back at me. I come back to where we were standing by the car.
I hand him my spare key. “Instead of leaving, you could stay over.”
There’s a brief pause. “Since I drove all this way. I do make a way better breakfast than you.”
I smile and take his hand. We walk up the long pathway, locking the front door behind us, and head into the bedroom.
He starts undressing until he’s in his boxers, and I put on the shirt he was wearing, after I remove my clothes. He snuggles up behind me in bed and puts his arm around me.
I close my eyes, waiting for sleep to take me so the room can stop spinning.
He whispers in my ear, “I’d better not see any part of another guy on you again.”
My eyes pop open. “So the next time I hug my dad, I’ll have to ask permission from you?” I pause. “I don’t think so. Relax. ”
“You know what I mean, Scarlett.”
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me.”
He knows me too well. I know he’s being protective, but I can’t help but wonder what kind of reaction I’d get from him the next time things don’t go his way.